Organ


Elegy for the Time of Change,


Robert A. Harris, Oxford University Press 978-0-1935-6019-2, 2021. Te composer informs us this was


composed in June 2020 as “a reaction to the horrific death of George Floyd, who was murdered as the entire world witnessed his cruel suffocation by a police officer. Floyd was forced to the


ground and struggled to breathe for 9 minutes and 29 seconds – calling out for his mother – before taking his last breath and dying.” Te piece was composed to be played on a three-manual instrument and requires some quick registration changes if played on a two-manual instru- ment. It also involves more contemporary harmonies that reflect the dissonance existing in many places concerning racial relations today. Te publisher classifies the level of difficulty as easy.


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Shawn Gingrich is Director of Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Hershey, PA, and a past president of The Fellowship.


A Wedding Music Anthology: Fiſtieth Anniversary


Edition, David N. Johnson, Augsburg Fortress 978-1- 5064-6598-2, 2020. Many of us have the green, orange, red, brown, and


beige books of Wedding Music compiled by David John- son, originally published between 1970 and 1990. Tis fif- tieth anniversary edition (2020) gathers the material of all five books in one spiral bound edition, a welcome addition to replace my well-worn books. Also included are all the B-flat and C instrument parts which can be photocopied.


Suite for Organ with Minimal


Pedal, Matthew H. Corl, MorningStar Music Publishers MSM-10-446, 2021. Tis original four-movement work


would be useful to an accomplished pianist who is honing organ skills since it has easy pedal parts. Te “Intra- da” provides a festive opening with quick-shiſting tonality alternating


between homophonic and polyphonic texture. Te “Re- flection” is a lyric setting based on Tantum ergo VII (Mode 1) plainchant and is for manuals only save the final chord. Te “Cantilena” includes the most pedal notes of the four movements, alternates a colorful solo melody, which shiſts from treble to bass, with echoes on the accompanying


manual. Te concluding “Trumpet Tune,” in the style of a march, features the solo in soprano and tenor voices in alternation.


Ten Chorales in the Schübler Tradition, ed. Marilyn


Perkins Biery, Augsburg Fortress 978-1-5064-6921-8, 2020. Biery transcribed 10 chorale-based Bach cantata move-


ments in a similar style to the Schübler Chorales. Each piece is accompanied by an explanation of its context in the original cantata and the chorale tune upon which it is based. Tese settings make excellent pieces for worship, recital, and organ instruction – especially for students who are not yet ready to learn an entire Bach trio sonata – or for organists who love playing the trios but want some- thing shorter for worship services and based on chorales.


Hymn Preludes and Postludes,


arr. Robert C. Lau, Lorenz Publishing Company 70/2313L, 2021. Tis collection is a unique pairing


of prelude and postlude settings on chosen hymns of praise. In each pair- ing, the first setting is a quiet prelude (or offertory) character and the second setting is in extroverted postlude char- acter. Tey can be used individually


or together to bookend a service. Te tunes included are Azmon, Duke Street, Foundation, Nun danket all und bringet her, St. Denio, and Hyfrydol. As in many of Lau’s publications, these arrangements


are easy to moderate difficulty and are quite accessible to most organists. Te settings are conceived for two- manual instruments, though other creative possibilities would exist, and the registrations suggested are general, leaving room for the creative expression of the musician. Dr. Lau is a consummate composer and I recommend all of his many organ and choral publications.


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Mark Thewes is Director of Music/Organist at Westbrook United Methodist Church in Canton, OH.


Tree Trumpet Tunes for Organ, Michael Helman,


MorningStar Music Publishers MSM-10-298, 2021. Te composer has written three tunes for the trumpet


stop in the keys of A, F, and C. You do not have to have “the big reed” to play these. A swell trumpet sometimes beefed up by adding a 4’ principal will work just fine. Tey are all moderately easy to medium in difficulty and can be used for weddings, recital, or a festive Sunday.


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January-February-March 2022 • WorshipArts • UMFellowship.org


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